“Despite economic uncertainties and higher rates of unemployment across sectors, not only hospitality, great organisations are not standing still but are transforming,” remarked Mr. Ekthana Faisaikram, Managing Director of Ekthana Hospitality Education Services Co., Ltd.
Since the founding of this well-reputed education consultant and admissions office in 2006, Mr. Ekthana has sent hundreds of Thai students to the world’s top hospitality management schools, elite boarding schools, and leading design schools across Europe and America. He believes that now is a decisive moment for those who dream of careers in hospitality:
Mr. Ekthana Faisaikram, Managing Director of Ekthana Hospitality Education Services Co., Ltd.
“This is the time to improve yourself and gain modern skill sets so you’re ready for changes in the near future. Despite the news over lay-offs and big companies reporting less profit, the top hotels, restaurants, and corporates are keeping their best people and recruiting new talented staff to help them bounce back after the crisis. So our focus should actually be on how to go beyond expectations, competitors, and colleagues, especially when others are stalling.”
This notion is also reflected by Ms. Thanatip Teera-aksonsit, a portfolio revenue manager and alumnus of Les Roches International School of Hotel Management. Her main responsibility is to serve as a consultant to hotels and find ways to generate more revenue by coordinating closely with other departments, including sales, marketing, public relations, finance, and reception. Years of management experience with well-known hotel chains have taught her about opportunities in a crisis:
“Critical moments actually propel hotels to revolutionise. For example, some hotels are now hitting record-high numbers by remodelling themselves into alternative quarantine spaces. Many hotels in Thailand that used to depend on cash flow from foreign travellers are now catering to Thai tourists who usually book a room directly, resulting in a significant reduction in commissions.”
“However, not all are able to rise to the occasion. Say you want to welcome more Thai customers. You have to be able to figure out what food to serve instead or how to train your employees to handle different expectations from guests. Successful hotels that are thriving now are manifesting sharp business acumen and resilience that stem from deep professional knowledge. Therefore, if you want to jump on this bandwagon, proper education cannot be emphasised enough.”
This paramount importance of necessary skills and quality education in hospitality leads to one place: Switzerland. It is no exaggeration to say that the land of the Alps reigns as the hospitality education capital of the world with top schools like Les Roches and Glion ranked among top three higher hospitality institutions.
A Les Roches MBA alumnus, Ms. Prin Xumsai Na Ayudhaya, Assistant Restaurant Manager at Cuisine de Garden, Bangkok, recounted the first-class education she received:
“Switzerland is home of hospitality. Their focus on practical knowledge is absolutely unrivalled. During my internship as a F&B management trainee, I got to supervise freshmen at different outlets, from the lobby and cashier to fast food and fine dining restaurants. The teachers merely acted as coaches, giving me guidance and then letting me take charge.”
“Moreover, multiple field trips are available for you to really witness how the top-tier hotels are operating. During my studies, I went to Dubai and Chicago for hotel visits and got a chance to have special Q&A sessions. This not only gave me fascinating first-hand experiences from real professionals but also a golden opportunity for connections. We still contact one another on LinkedIn or Facebook today.”
Ms. Prin believes that another asset of Swiss education is its positive and nurturing environment. “The quality of life there is phenomenal,” she said. “The city is safe and the culture is cosmopolitan. You easily appreciate the beauty of different people from different countries, and it helps me with my work, as I know how to start a conversation knowing a bit about the guests’ place of origin and make them feel comfortable. And students do not compete with each other. None of my peers ever asked me about my grades.”
Mr. Ekthana affirmed this observation: “These world-renowned Swiss schools such as Les Roches and Glion are professionally-run colleges. They hire experts in the industry to train their students to become professionals in the field. They invest in and are known for research and innovation which makes them trendsetters over the years. Employers love the graduates because they don’t have to waste time training and that’s why every year thousands of international companies come to recruit these students who number only around 1,500 from each school. This means companies actually have to fight each other over the potential employees.”
“The opportunities are not only restricted to hotel or tourism business either. These graduates are also business experts. They learn luxury management and entrepreneurship so they can work in various workplaces, including real estate, airlines, hospitals, retail, and lifestyle businesses. The opportunities are numerous.”
Now the dream of pursuing hospitality education in top Swiss institutes is more achievable than ever for Thai students as Ekthana Hospitality Education Service has helped prepare hundreds of applicants to apply to schools and launch their careers.
“We are an official partner and admissions office, and we take care of our students from step one, with their application and pre-departure preparation through to assistance during their studies and job prospects. We believe so much in Thai students’ potential and our mission is to push them to stand on the world stage,” said Mr. Ekthana.
“It is important that the students feel secure that they have a back-up. Some of them have never been away from their parents before and we reassure them that even at midnight their call will be answered.”
Ms. Thanatip said that Ekthana’s help was indispensable during her studies at Les Roches: “The staff were highly experienced. They helped me find a scholarship for my BBA. The connections they provided with older Thai students were also invaluable because I could ask them about all the tiny details about studying and living abroad.”
Mr. Ekthana added that grants and scholarships in a range of categories, living expenses included, in various forms, are available.
“The only prerequisite is the aspiration to learn,” he said.
Mr. Ekthana concluded on the Thai hospitality sector, “It is well-known that Thailand has considerable potential for growth in tourism with famous menus and unique cultures. Therefore, the question is how our business owners can formulate better strategies and rise above competitors. The world wants to come to our country and we need to make sure that every arrival is welcomed by a decent and sincere host.”
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